Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast

Michele Alaniz & Lacy Wright
  • 5.0 (18)
  • COURSES
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to Ideas at Play, the go-to podcast for busy pediatric occupational therapy professionals! Whether you're in school-based settings, early intervention, or outpatient practice, we bring you evidence-based strategies, practical tips, and engaging discussions to support your OT practice with children, teens, and young adults. Each episode features: A deep dive into recent pediatric OT research and how to apply it."Nailed It or Failed It," where we share what’s working—and what isn’t—in our pediatric OT practice.Real-world examples and listener questions about all things pediatric occupational therapy.Shout outs to People, Places, and Products that fill our occupational therapy hearts Join the hosts, Michele Alaniz, OTD, OTR/L, BCP and Lacy Wright, OTD, OTR/L, BCP, as we explore innovative OT ideas, share professional insights, and help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends in pediatric occupational therapy. Subscribe now and unlock actionable strategies to help the children you serve thrive! Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter https://forms.gle/2aceiDDHBq6LR5TV6. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play Keywords: occupational therapy, OT, pediatric occupational therapy, evidence based practice, peds OT

  1. 4D AGO

    Ep. 60 Ideas at Work Highlights

    We're celebrating episode 60 by going inside our Ideas at Work pilot group. Real therapists, real sessions, real problem-solving. We troubleshoot a tough emotional regulation session, share how one therapist used a basketball intervention, and break down how to write airtight documentation when your funding source wants to put you in a box (hint - this is where the key ingredients and mechanism of action come into play). This is evidence-based practice in the wild — messy, creative, and it works! Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️  Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧  Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉  Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play

    26 min

  2. APR 1

    Ep. 59 Coaching in Early Intervention

    Most OTs in early intervention think they're coaching, BUT the research says otherwise. In this episode, we discuss a scoping review on caregiver coaching in early intervention — the five key ingredients, why the model can be hard to do in real life, and five action steps you can take into someone's living room on a Thursday morning. Turns out coaching is a skill, not a vibe. Let's get better at it. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too. Seruya, F. M., Feit, E., Tirado, A., Ottomanelli, D., & Celio, M. (2022). Caregiver coaching in early intervention: A scoping review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 76(4), 7604205070. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2022.049143 Williams, C. S., & Sawyer, G. E. (2023). Going beyond "I'm a coach": Adopting a caregiver coaching framework in EI. Young Exceptional Children, 27(1), 3–15. https://doi.org/10.1177/10962506231153660 Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️  Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧  Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉  Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play

    40 min

  3. MAR 25

    Ep. 58 Zippers: An OT + Speech Approach

    Most of us teach zippers the same way—repeat, repeat, repeat—and hope it clicks. But what if there’s a better way? In this episode, we break down a simple, creative approach to teaching zippering skills that combines OT and speech strategies to help kids learn faster. We review a pilot study using storytelling, targeted vocabulary, and a themed zipper vest—and then show you how to apply it in real sessions using child-led language, special interests, and easy take-home supports. If zipper goals feel stuck, this episode will give you a fresh, practical way to move them forward. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too. Silverman, F., & Knight, C. (2019). Facilitating zippering skills in preschoolers: An interprofessional pilot study using a pretest–posttest design. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 73(4 Suppl. 1), 7311515317p1. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2019.73S1-PO6026  Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️  Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧  Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉  Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play

    26 min

  4. MAR 18

    Ep. 57 Sensory Activity Schedules

    Sensory activity schedules—often called sensory diets—are used every day in school-based therapy, but how strong is the evidence behind them? In this episode, we review a recent systematic review that examined whether sensory activity schedules improve classroom participation for students with sensory processing differences. We unpack what the research found about its effect on school performance and share six practical ingredients therapists can use to build more effective sensory activity schedules.  We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too. Latifi, K., Patterson, K., Rider, J. V., & Lau, C. (2026). Impact of sensory activity schedules on school performance of students with sensory processing differences: A systematic review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 80(1), 8001185060. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2025.051334 Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️  Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧  Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉  Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play

    38 min

  5. MAR 11

    Ep. 56 OT Interventions for Autistic Children (20 Strategies!)

    Evidence-based OT for autism can feel overwhelming—but what if you had a clear menu of strategies to choose from? In this episode, we break down a study that identified 20 treatment components pediatric OTs use with autistic children and organized them into six major categories. Learn how this framework can guide your therapy sessions and strengthen your documentation. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too.  Crasta, J. E., Martis, J., Kromalic, M., Jarrott, S., Wengerd, L., & Darragh, A. (2024). Characterizing Occupational Therapy Intervention for Children on the Autism Spectrum. The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association, 78(5), 7805205210. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2024.050734  Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️  Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧  Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉  Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play

    38 min

  6. MAR 4

    Ep.55 Burnout in OT Practice

    Let’s be honest: even the most playful, passionate OTs/OTAs can hit a wall. Burnout is more than just feeling tired after a long week — it’s a predictable response to specific job demands. In this episode, we unpack what research says actually drives burnout in OT practice — from workload and role ambiguity to the hidden strain of always being “on.” Then we walk through practical, research-based strategies — including job crafting — to help you prevent burnout, buffer growing stress, and recover if you’re already feeling fried.  We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too.  Lynner, B., Stoa, R., Fisher, G., Del Pozo, E., & Lizerbram, R. (2025). Feel the burn, heal the burn: Job crafting and burnout among occupational therapy professionals. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 79(1), 7901205080. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2025.050731 Additional article: Cohen, C., Pignata, S., Bezak, E., et al. (2023). Workplace interventions to improve well-being and reduce burnout for nurses, physicians and allied healthcare professionals: A systematic review. BMJ Open, 13, e071203. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-071203 Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️  Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧  Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉  Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play

    37 min

  7. FEB 25

    Ep. 54 Big Feelings, Big Strategies: Emotional Regulation Meta Analysis

    Emotional regulation is often treated as a behavior problem — but what if we’re missing the bigger picture? In this episode, we unpack what emotional regulation really is, why it’s so complex, and how executive function, coping skills, co-regulation, and environmental supports all play a role. We’ll move beyond surface-level strategies and explore what the research actually says about improving regulation in meaningful, sustainable ways. This will shift how you think about “big feelings” — and how to support them with big, evidence-informed strategies. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too.  Let us know which emotional regulation tool you want to hear more about next!  Restoy, D., Oriol-Escudé, M., Alonzo-Castillo, T., Magán-Maganto, M., Canal-Bedia, R., Díez-Villoria, E., Gisbert-Gustemps, L., Setién-Ramos, I., Martínez-Ramírez, M., Ramos-Quiroga, J. A., & Lugo-Marín, J. (2024). Emotion regulation and emotion dysregulation in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: A meta-analysis of evaluation and intervention studies. Clinical Psychology Review, 109, 102410. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2024.102410 Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️  Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧  Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉  Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play

    40 min

  8. FEB 18

    Ep. 53 Clothes on Backward? A Super Simple Visual Cue for Dressing

    Why can a child complete every step of dressing… but still put the shirt on backward? In this episode of Ideas at Play, we explore a simple, research-backed occupational therapy strategy that improved clothing orientation using one small visual cue (yes — it involves duct tape). We break down why dressing orientation can be so tricky, how this approach compares to other OT and ABA interventions, and how motor learning can support independence. If backward clothes are a sticking point in your OT sessions, this episode offers a practical, low-cost strategy you can try tomorrow. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too.  Foster, H. G., Elliott, T.-C. C., & Ayres, K. M. (2023). Using a tag as a stimulus prompt to increase correct dressing orientation. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 48(4), 203–214. https://doi.org/10.1177/15407969231205849 Cahill, S. M., & Beisbier, S. (2020). Occupational therapy practice guidelines for children and youth ages 5–21 years. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(4), 7404397010p1–7404397010p48. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.744001 Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️  Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧  Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉  Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play

    31 min
See All (61)

5
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

Welcome to Ideas at Play, the go-to podcast for busy pediatric occupational therapy professionals! Whether you're in school-based settings, early intervention, or outpatient practice, we bring you evidence-based strategies, practical tips, and engaging discussions to support your OT practice with children, teens, and young adults. Each episode features: A deep dive into recent pediatric OT research and how to apply it."Nailed It or Failed It," where we share what’s working—and what isn’t—in our pediatric OT practice.Real-world examples and listener questions about all things pediatric occupational therapy.Shout outs to People, Places, and Products that fill our occupational therapy hearts Join the hosts, Michele Alaniz, OTD, OTR/L, BCP and Lacy Wright, OTD, OTR/L, BCP, as we explore innovative OT ideas, share professional insights, and help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends in pediatric occupational therapy. Subscribe now and unlock actionable strategies to help the children you serve thrive! Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter https://forms.gle/2aceiDDHBq6LR5TV6. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play Keywords: occupational therapy, OT, pediatric occupational therapy, evidence based practice, peds OT

Information

You Might Also Like